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THE MAROON A LOYOLA TRADITION SINCE 1923 • "FOR A GREATER LOYOLA" Vol. 87, NO. 11 ONLINE EDITION AT LOYOI.AMAROON.COM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 Residential policies draw student complaints By EDUARDO GONZALEZ Senior Slaff Writer Over Thanksgiving break. Residential Life conducted safety checks in dorm rooms across campus, confiscated items like knives, a sword and a tampon machine. Res Life staff members who conducted the searches left notes in the rooms informing the students of the search and of the confiscated items. When Andrew Niemann, psychology senior, returned from break. his a decorative knife from India and a stop sign he and his roommates hung in their room was gone. Niemann said he won't be getting the stop sign back, which Res Life accused him of being in possession of illegally. He said Donna Adams. Carrolton Hall area director, confiscated it and gave it to University Police. He met with Adams and she told him he should have reviewed the residential life handbook to see what objects are not allowed in the dorms. "They said it was a weapon, but it's blunt," he said. "It doesn't really have a blade. I don't understand the difference between this and a kitchen knife, which could be more of a weapon than what I have." Nicholas Courtney, philosophy senior, almost had something confiscated too. Adams told him she would have to take away a prop sword in his room, but Courtney said he convinced her it was not a weapon or dangerous. "The problem I had wasn't that she was taking things because I understand Res Life puts out those rules, and they have the right to take things during safety checks for fire hazards and other things," he said. "It was more of the manner in which it was done. I felt I was not treated as an adult and someone who is paying for a room and a residence. I felt I was being treated in a patronizing way." Res Life also confiscated a tampon dispenser from music industry studies junior John Valdespino's rcxim. Holly Combs. English writing sophomore. 20 Years Later GEENAH ACEVEDO/The Maroon A girl looks on at an event at the Schools of the Americas Watch protest in Fort Benning, Ga., Sunday Nov. 22. Loyola students attended the protest of the alleged actions of graduates of the School of the Americas, including the massacre of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador. Students attend School of the Americas protest By GEENAH ACEVEDO Contributing Writer Thousands of protesters, including 32 representatives from Loyola, gathered in Fort Benning, Ga Sunday, Nov. 22 to congregate a peaceful protest against the U.S. Department of Defense's formerly known School of the Americas. Sunday morning, Loyola students and staff, each holding a white wooden cross with the name of a victim connected to the School of the Americas, stood outside its fence along with thousands ofthe other protestors. Students SeekingSolidarity.asubgroup of the Loyola University Community Action Program, plans the trip to the protest each year. The advocacy organization School of the Americas Watch organizes the annual protest to call for the closing of the combat training school (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001). School of the Americas Watch and other critics say the school's graduates have committed murders, rapes and tortures in Latin America, including a 1989 massacre of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador. Military officials deny that the School of the Americas or its successor were responsible for any human-rights abuses. A U.S. congressional panel concluded that some of the killers in the 1989 massacre were School of America graduates. There were speakers who talked about their experiences. Most speakers were activists and representatives from the School of the Americas Watch, talking to the audience in the rain. The vigil was lead by a group dressed in hooded, black robes with white, powdered faces who emerged from the crowd of thousands before the march started. Some were holding crosses, others carrying coffins. Behind them stood a small crowd of people holding tall, bamboo reeds with ribbons hanging from the ends. The announcers chanted the names and ages of victims while the crowd responded by raising their crosses and chanting "presente," Spanish for "present." "I was really moved by the chanting of names during the protest," said sociology sophomore Jill Douglas. "I liked the respectfulness of the crowd toward the victims." The drummers joined the hooded figures and prepared to lead the march, their steady drumming continuous throughout the march. Trial for alumna's murder to continue By JEAN-PAUL ARGUELLO Assistant News Editor An Orleans Parish judge determined that a man accused of killing a Loyola alumna in 2007 is now mentally competent to stand trial after two years of treatment ;it a high security mental hospital. Police arrested Erik William Traczyk, 38, and chained him with the murder of Nia Robertson Aug. 15, 2007. She graduated from Loyola in 2(X)4 with a master's degree in mass communication. Traczyk was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. According to a homicide detective's testimony, patrons saw Traczyk walk up to Ryan Pasternak, a Children's Hospital pediatrician, as he sat at the bar talking with a friend, wrap his arm around Pastem;ik's neck, then stab him in the neck. According to an investigating officer's testi m on y , witnesses said Traczyk walked to the front door, paused, then turned around and walked toward Robertson, who was sitting at the bar as well, and did the same thing to her. Traczyk had no connection to either victim. Robertson died during emergency surgery at University Hospital later that night. Pasternak survived the attack. Traczyk has a history of mental illness dating back to 2000, according to doctors. Court documents show he suffers from schizophrenia bipolar disorder, depression, paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia The judge ordered Traczyk be forced to take more antipsychotics daily in order to ready him for trial, and doctors called as expert witnesses said now Traczyk understands fully the nature of his charged crimes, that his lawyers are there to help him in his defense, and that he could face the death penalty if convicted. Traczyk changed his plea from guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity two months ago. Traczyk's next court appearance will be a hearing on prosecutorial motioas to furnish documents outlining the process by with mental health professionals are hired by the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System Foreasic Division and any documents pertaining to Traczyk's mental health from the past until now. It will be held Dec. 4. Although it has been two years since Robertson's death, she continues to have an impact on the Loyola community. Nia Robertson Murdered three years ago see CHECKS, page 4 see PROTEST, page 4 see TRIAL, page 4 'W" See Life & Times, page 5 MAROON DIRECTORY: CRIME WATCH, page 2 | LIFE & TIMES, page 5 | SPORTS, page 8 | EDITORIAL, page 10 | NEWS TIPS: 865 3535

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THE MAROON A LOYOLA TRADITION SINCE 1923 • "FOR A GREATER LOYOLA" Vol. 87, NO. 11 ONLINE EDITION AT LOYOI.AMAROON.COM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 Residential policies draw student complaints By EDUARDO GONZALEZ Senior Slaff Writer Over Thanksgiving break. Residential Life conducted safety checks in dorm rooms across campus, confiscated items like knives, a sword and a tampon machine. Res Life staff members who conducted the searches left notes in the rooms informing the students of the search and of the confiscated items. When Andrew Niemann, psychology senior, returned from break. his a decorative knife from India and a stop sign he and his roommates hung in their room was gone. Niemann said he won't be getting the stop sign back, which Res Life accused him of being in possession of illegally. He said Donna Adams. Carrolton Hall area director, confiscated it and gave it to University Police. He met with Adams and she told him he should have reviewed the residential life handbook to see what objects are not allowed in the dorms. "They said it was a weapon, but it's blunt," he said. "It doesn't really have a blade. I don't understand the difference between this and a kitchen knife, which could be more of a weapon than what I have." Nicholas Courtney, philosophy senior, almost had something confiscated too. Adams told him she would have to take away a prop sword in his room, but Courtney said he convinced her it was not a weapon or dangerous. "The problem I had wasn't that she was taking things because I understand Res Life puts out those rules, and they have the right to take things during safety checks for fire hazards and other things," he said. "It was more of the manner in which it was done. I felt I was not treated as an adult and someone who is paying for a room and a residence. I felt I was being treated in a patronizing way." Res Life also confiscated a tampon dispenser from music industry studies junior John Valdespino's rcxim. Holly Combs. English writing sophomore. 20 Years Later GEENAH ACEVEDO/The Maroon A girl looks on at an event at the Schools of the Americas Watch protest in Fort Benning, Ga., Sunday Nov. 22. Loyola students attended the protest of the alleged actions of graduates of the School of the Americas, including the massacre of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador. Students attend School of the Americas protest By GEENAH ACEVEDO Contributing Writer Thousands of protesters, including 32 representatives from Loyola, gathered in Fort Benning, Ga Sunday, Nov. 22 to congregate a peaceful protest against the U.S. Department of Defense's formerly known School of the Americas. Sunday morning, Loyola students and staff, each holding a white wooden cross with the name of a victim connected to the School of the Americas, stood outside its fence along with thousands ofthe other protestors. Students SeekingSolidarity.asubgroup of the Loyola University Community Action Program, plans the trip to the protest each year. The advocacy organization School of the Americas Watch organizes the annual protest to call for the closing of the combat training school (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001). School of the Americas Watch and other critics say the school's graduates have committed murders, rapes and tortures in Latin America, including a 1989 massacre of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador. Military officials deny that the School of the Americas or its successor were responsible for any human-rights abuses. A U.S. congressional panel concluded that some of the killers in the 1989 massacre were School of America graduates. There were speakers who talked about their experiences. Most speakers were activists and representatives from the School of the Americas Watch, talking to the audience in the rain. The vigil was lead by a group dressed in hooded, black robes with white, powdered faces who emerged from the crowd of thousands before the march started. Some were holding crosses, others carrying coffins. Behind them stood a small crowd of people holding tall, bamboo reeds with ribbons hanging from the ends. The announcers chanted the names and ages of victims while the crowd responded by raising their crosses and chanting "presente," Spanish for "present." "I was really moved by the chanting of names during the protest," said sociology sophomore Jill Douglas. "I liked the respectfulness of the crowd toward the victims." The drummers joined the hooded figures and prepared to lead the march, their steady drumming continuous throughout the march. Trial for alumna's murder to continue By JEAN-PAUL ARGUELLO Assistant News Editor An Orleans Parish judge determined that a man accused of killing a Loyola alumna in 2007 is now mentally competent to stand trial after two years of treatment ;it a high security mental hospital. Police arrested Erik William Traczyk, 38, and chained him with the murder of Nia Robertson Aug. 15, 2007. She graduated from Loyola in 2(X)4 with a master's degree in mass communication. Traczyk was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. According to a homicide detective's testimony, patrons saw Traczyk walk up to Ryan Pasternak, a Children's Hospital pediatrician, as he sat at the bar talking with a friend, wrap his arm around Pastem;ik's neck, then stab him in the neck. According to an investigating officer's testi m on y , witnesses said Traczyk walked to the front door, paused, then turned around and walked toward Robertson, who was sitting at the bar as well, and did the same thing to her. Traczyk had no connection to either victim. Robertson died during emergency surgery at University Hospital later that night. Pasternak survived the attack. Traczyk has a history of mental illness dating back to 2000, according to doctors. Court documents show he suffers from schizophrenia bipolar disorder, depression, paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia The judge ordered Traczyk be forced to take more antipsychotics daily in order to ready him for trial, and doctors called as expert witnesses said now Traczyk understands fully the nature of his charged crimes, that his lawyers are there to help him in his defense, and that he could face the death penalty if convicted. Traczyk changed his plea from guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity two months ago. Traczyk's next court appearance will be a hearing on prosecutorial motioas to furnish documents outlining the process by with mental health professionals are hired by the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System Foreasic Division and any documents pertaining to Traczyk's mental health from the past until now. It will be held Dec. 4. Although it has been two years since Robertson's death, she continues to have an impact on the Loyola community. Nia Robertson Murdered three years ago see CHECKS, page 4 see PROTEST, page 4 see TRIAL, page 4 'W" See Life & Times, page 5 MAROON DIRECTORY: CRIME WATCH, page 2 | LIFE & TIMES, page 5 | SPORTS, page 8 | EDITORIAL, page 10 | NEWS TIPS: 865 3535